Best Camera to Use as a Webcam is?
I love my Sony A5100. Dollar for dollar, it’s still the best camera to use as a webcam. I bought it used off eBay in 2019 with the kit 16-50mm lens for $350. When Covid hit in 2020, I started using it for all my videoconference calls like Webex, Zoom, and Teams. Now, in 2021, I wanted to recommend it to a coworker as the best webcam upgrade and went to check the current pricing… uh oh.
The best current alternative to the Sony A5100 to use as a webcam is the Sony A6100. You’ll also want a dummy battery, a small tripod or articulating arm to mount it on, an HDMI to USB capture card, and the right HDMI cable. For an upgrade, switch from the 16-50mm kit lens to either the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 lens or the Viltrox 23mm f/1.4.
The problem
I figured I’d pick up another used a5100. My first eBay search result for an A5100 was a used camera from Japan listed for $848. What on earth? A little more searching revealed the problem. The Sony A5100 is out of new stock pretty much everywhere. As of March 2021, there seem to be a few open box cameras available for sale here and there for $550 and up. If you can find one for a reasonable price, it’s still a great camera.
Update: as of November 2022, Sony a5100s can be found on eBay for about $350 again.
So now I have a problem. Out of the hundreds of digital camera options out there, what can I recommend that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg?
Before we get to recommendations, let’s consider what you really need in a camera for streaming to Zoom. While we’re here, if you want the high quality of a Sony a5100 as a webcam, you need to be sure you’ve got one of the best mics for Zoom, too.
Clean HDMI out
The number one most important thing for using a camera as a webcam is a clean HDMI out signal. That means full resolution image with no overlay information like you see in the viewfinder or screen. Not long ago, this was extremely rare even on quite expensive cameras. It’s becoming more common, but you still have to be a bit careful. Just because a camera has an HDMI out jack, doesn’t mean it has a clean signal. Very often, the video signal out carries with it the overlay information about shutter speed, ISO, battery charge, focus boxes, and such. Not what you want in Zoom. You have to be able to turn all of that off, which isn’t possible for many cameras.
Excellent autofocus
Autofocus that works while your camera is tethered to an HDMI-to-USB capture card, specifically. I know. This blew me away when I learned that, for example, many Canon cameras disable their (otherwise excellent) autofocus when connected to a capture card. Granted, you won’t be moving around much while at your desk on a Zoom call, but you’d be surprised how little movement it takes for your camera to lose its focus on you. Ideally, you want autofocus that is fast, silent, and locks onto your face. This requirement alone eliminates many whole brands from consideration. In my opinion, the only ones that truly meet this need are the Sony line, the more recent mirrorless Canon cameras, and the Z-series Nikons.
Ability to disable automatic power off
That meeting is going to run over. You already know it, so do you really want to hit pause on your meeting to wake your camera up after it shuts off? If the LCD screen shuts off, it’s a bit annoying. If the camera goes to sleep and stops sending a video signal, you’re cut off from your meeting. I don’t know how many cameras allow you to disable auto-shut-off, but Sony does. If you can’t disable the power-off timer, it isn’t the best camera to use as a webcam. Check before you buy.
At least 1080p30 video
Let’s face it, 720p is the minimum, but most videoconference platforms won’t support more than 1080p resolution. Some only support 1080p for paying subscribers. Likewise, higher frame rates are pointless for talking-head-style web conferencing. The Sony a6100 has quite good 4k video capabilities. For Zoom this is a waste. You’ll be setting it to 1080p. It can also do higher framerates like 1080p120. This too is a waste, but if you also shoot video for later editing, you’ll be glad of these capabilities. Nothing over 1080p30 is necessary, but it could be nice to have.
Interchangeable lenses
Yes, I know there are some really good point-and-shoot style cameras like the Sony ZV-1 and the DSC-RX100 VII. They have great sensors and video capabilities, but they lack one important thing. Lens options. They can’t be changed, and most point-and-shoots have slow apertures. This is not conducive to getting the coveted blurry background that clearly distinguishes larger sensor cameras from webcams and the like. The best camera to use as a webcam must give you this option.
Flip-screen
For a webcam on a fixed mount, this isn’t entirely necessary, but it sure is nice to have a screen that can flip to front-facing so you can see yourself while you’re framing, zooming, focusing, and adjusting your lighting and exposure. You could use the view on a Zoom call just for yourself so you can see your setup before you join, but a flippy screen is easier.
Just because a camera says it has an articulating screen doesn’t mean it will flip to front-facing. For example, the Sony A6000 and A6300 screens will only flip to about 90 degrees. Enough to see it from above, but not in front. Next, even for screens that do flip 180 degrees, which way do they flip? The Nikon Z-series screens flip down below the camera. That’s fine if you’re hand-holding, but if your camera is on its tripod mount, now your screen is behind the tripod. No good. Side-flipping screens are better, but in my opinion, the best are the ones that flip upwards above the camera like the Sony A6100, A6400, and A6600.
I was a huge Nikon fan for many years and really wanted to recommend one. Sadly, only the newest Z-range of cameras has good autofocus for video. They seem to be excellent cameras, but the flip-down screen of the Z50 interferes with tripod mounting 🙁 and there still aren’t many good (and affordable) lenses available for the Z-mount. Yes, you could use (and pay for) the Nikon F-to-Z adapter, but your autofocus simply won’t be as good.
Solution
With all of these things in mind, my recommendation as an alternative to the a5100 is the Sony A6100. It has excellent Sony autofocus, great image quality, clean HDMI out, a flip-up screen, you can turn off power-saving, there are quite a few good lenses available, and it’s cheaper than most similar quality options. If you don’t choose this particular one, at least stick with Sony or late-model Canons, and research carefully before you buy, and you’ll have the best camera to use as a webcam for you. Now that you’ve got a great webcam, be sure you learn about lighting for video, too.